Speaking about his side’s poor run of form at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp referenced a “special problem”.
Deciphering the repetitive nature of goal his team have conceded, the German boss detailed an area Rangers can target in today’s Champions League clash.
Pressing is in this current Liverpool team’s identity, it’s at the core of Klopp’s footballing philosophy. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders just wrote a book chronicling the 2021/22 season titled ‘Intensity’.
However, for whatever reason in recent weeks, opponents have been able to exploit this core value as a result of the "special problem" Klopp referenced.
“You are right. We have conceded now similar goals like this where they go through the same gaps,” he said.
“The special problem that we have is that we have a very brave way of defending usually and when the timing in our defending is not perfect, we leave a gap open – that was always the case by the way. But the pressure remained on the boy on the ball no one really recognised it. We closed it with intensity. If you don’t do that, this gap is open for a short moment and Brighton used it quite often, they passed the ball through our gap in between the lines where they could turn and this kind of thing, that make it tricky. We have to make it more compact.
“We have to improve it in our mind. We know that. Defending is an art. It worked for us really well and when it is not working out, you realise step by step how much you have to go back to the basics so you defend solidly again.”
Liverpool move as a compact unit around the pitch, pressing in a ball-orientated manner. Meaning, rather than marking up man-for-man they try to get as many bodies as possible around the ball. They also defend with an incredibly high line to minimise the space opponents can play within.
Predominantly, issues have arisen in recent weeks when poor timing of the press has exposed this “brave” method of defending. If the team don’t press with cohesion, opponents can exploit the gaps left by playing through the lines, down the side of the defensive shape or hitting space behind the high line.
Look at Brighton’s equalising goal on Saturday as an example. Playing the ball around the back, they provoke the press and Adam Webster’s dummy allows him to ghost beyond Mo Salah. Now, the visitors have a clear route into their forward players by playing through a disconnected midfield.
In a promising position, Danny Welbeck can turn and attack the unprotected defence. He plays the ball wide and after a through ball and cross, Leandro Trossard completes his hat-trick at the back post.
When Salah sought to press, he was beaten too easily and his team did not follow. As a consequence, the midfield was played through with a single pass and the defence left exposed.
An example of an opponent playing around Liverpool’s press can be found in their recent Champions League tie with Ajax. The Dutch outfit are stretching the pitch below while Liverpool’s defensive block is unorganised.
As Blind receives the ball by the touchline, Salah shows him down the line, presumably expecting his team to play the offside trap as they so often do. Instead, the backline is unorganised and a midfield run takes advantage of their shape.
The ball is chopped back to Mohammad Kudus who finishes superbly on his left foot.
Salah’s intention to show the ball down the line is something Liverpool do religiously, baiting teams to try a ball in behind against their coordinated offside trap. However, as shown, when slightly unorganised it can leave them vulnerable.
And finally, Napoli’s fourth goal in their recent 4-1 win depicts the issues opponents can cause Liverpool if they target space behind their high line.
Again, a lack of pressure on the ball is the first mistake. No Liverpool player puts pressure on Zambo Anguissa and he can simply play the ball into acres of space behind the defence. Simeone’s foreknowledge allows him to make a run beyond while the Liverpool defence aren’t set to track backwards.
Again, a high-value opportunity has been quickly and simply generated and Piotr Zielinski scores at the second time of asking.
James Tavernier said his side needed to be “brave” on the ball at yesterday’s press conference. That’s a cliche response but holds water in this context. Today’s opponents have made three of the last five Champions League finals. On their day, they can argue their case as one of the world’s best teams. Any chance of taking anything up the road is extremely slim.
Nonetheless, there is a thread running through the type of goal Liverpool have conceded in recent weeks. Can Rangers exploit it at Anfield and expose their opponent's special problem?
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